Smartwatches can be the perfect complement to your smartphone, making communication with friends and family—and your favorite fitness and productivity apps—easier and faster. The best smartwatches for women accomplish all of this without sacrificing style. Our top picks, such as the Apple Watch Series 9 as the best smartwatch for women overall, and the Garmin Lily 2 as the best hybrid pick, find the right balance between looks and features to make our lives easier.
The best smartwatches for women keep a sleek style while providing an impressive array of fitness ... [+]
Using hands-on testing insights from our editors, including a certified personal trainer, my own firsthand experience testing and covering the wearables and consumer tech market for years and after considering what other experts in the field suggested, we narrowed our list of the best smartwatches for women down to seven high-quality pieces that are ideal for communication—and tracking your health and fitness goals and stats.
Customized Styles
The Apple Watch Series 9 is an ideal pick for iPhone users seeking the most harmonious relationship between both devices—and the unrivaled ability to cater the watch to your lifestyle and wardrobe. Like its predecessors, the Series 9 comes in two sizes, 45mm (1.8 inches) and the lighter 41mm (1.6 inches), which offers the most wearable build for smaller wrists. The Series 9 also comes in the numerous finishes (five aluminum shades) and band options (rubber, fabric and stainless steel and loop, buckle and bracelet configurations) that set the Apple Watch apart from competitors. The Series 9 also comes in the first-ever carbon neutral combo with the aluminum face and Sport Loop band—part of the brand’s push toward transforming its entire product line carbon neutral by 2030.
Seamless And Faster Features
A few other noteworthy changes include a faster chip that creates the brightest screen yet without straining battery life and the option to use a double-tap gesture with your thumb and index finger for easy one-hand operation. This motion eliminates the need to touch the display, which simplifies answering phone calls, replying to texts, setting timers and more when you don’t have free hands. The Series 9’s processor also makes Siri even more responsive and handier to consult for at-a-glance health metrics like your average heart rate and steps taken.
With All The Essential Health And Fitness Tracking
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a wellness device at its core, and its suite of health and safety traits continues to take center stage. The Series 9’s sensors monitor heart rate, sleep quality, temperature changes for cycle tracking, record ECGs and track a plethora of workouts. The latest Apple Watch can get quite pricey depending on the design customizations and add-ons like cellular connectivity, but it’s a standout for its feature-richness, seamless iPhone interactions and aesthetics.
“I like that the battery life is longer than other versions and the watch face stays ‘on’ or activated without me having to tap it (instead, I can rotate my wrist), which was an annoyance with previous versions of the Apple watch,” says deputy editor Kari Molvar. “I use it to track distances when I run, and in terms of fitness, it’s pretty average—it gets the job done, but it’s not as fancy as some dedicated fitness trackers. I do love it for answering calls on the go, since I often forget my phone at home and I need a way to stay in touch with the kids!”
If you want the Apple Watch experience without splurging, the 40mm Apple Watch SE, can offer much of the same benefits and the bonus of a slimmer build. The SE is a hair shorter at 1.57 inches, versus the standard 1.6-inch Series 9 display. Its overall weight comes in considerably lighter at just under 1 ounce (versus the 1.1-ounce Series 9). Despite the more affordable price point, the SE comes with the same customization flexibility as the Series 9. That means you can select from dozens of band fabric and color combinations—including the carbon neutral aluminum Sport Loop.
Still Packed With Features And Plenty Of Style
Other reasons to consider the less-costly SE: It comes with the same SOS features for fall and crash detection and emergency calling, the exact accessibility features, optional cellular connectivity, the same library of strength, functional and cardio workouts and offers just as much water resistance as the Series 9. Even better, the fitness tracking, goal achievement and metrics match the Series 9 experience. “While the SE is lacking in the more advanced tracking capabilities found in the Series 9 and Ultra, I found that it gave similar results as the 9 when it came to accuracy,” says Simpson. “For those who don’t want to overspend on a smartwatch, but still care about getting a quality device, the SE is a great choice.”
With Some Limitations
If you’re keen on using the latest wellness tools like ovulation estimation, the SE has some limitations. It has cycle tracking but lacks the temperature sensing needed to provide more detailed fertility information. The SE’s battery life also matches the Series 9’s approximate 18-hour run with regular use (i.e. not using low power mode and enabling the always-on display), but you can’t fast-charge it. The screen is also significantly darker—by about 1,000 nits—and Siri might not be as responsive as she is on the Series 9. All that said, if you’re looking for your first Apple Watch, you can’t go wrong with the budget-friendly SE.
The Garmin Lily 2 gets a lot more right on the dual-fitness tracking and wearability fronts than other Garmin hybrids I’ve tested in the Vivomove and Venu lineups. It’s the slimmest hybrid in the Garmin lineup at 0.9 ounces with a petite 1-inch display and is a great option for women with smaller wrists. Garmin estimates the fit range from 4.3 to 6.9 inches. Though it’s small, it’s not insubstantial; premium materials like leather, aluminum, fiber-reinforced polymer and Corning Gorilla Glass give it heft and durability.
Select From Among 11 Activities
You can pair this device with either an Android or Apple smartphone via the Garmin Connect app. Not all features work on both operating systems: text and phone replies only work when paired with Android phones. This companion app is where you’ll find all the useful details you might like to know about your daily workouts, step counts and sleep quality. Workout selection is more limited than most of the smartwatches on this list; you can choose from 11 various activities. And while you might be delighted by the level of detail the Lily 2 captures, like a lot of Garmin hybrids, automatic activity tracking might not be as consistent across the board.
“Similar to more advanced Garmins, the Lily gave detailed insights into each of my weightlifting sessions, including the ability to track my sets, reps and rest periods,” says Simpson. “It also told me what muscles I worked in my post-workout app summary by sensing the types of exercise I performed. I also liked that the Lily 2 is designed specifically for women. Advanced cycle and pregnancy tracking are available within the app.”
Overall, the Lily 2 can provide fairly robust wellness and fitness-tracking monitoring in a small package. It’s rated just as water resistant as Apple watches, making it suitable for swimming workouts, and it can track more nuanced metrics like fitness age, basically a number based on your chronological age and the Lily 2’s estimation of your VO2 max (how much oxygen your body needs while exercising).
Extra Attractive And Easy To Use
However well-performing they are, hybrid smartwatches can’t really compete with full smartwatch counterparts. But if you value a traditional watch aesthetic and care less about interacting with your wearable, the Withings ScanWatch Light is an attractive and health-conscious hybrid option that’s suitable for smaller wrists.
The ScanWatch Light’s case is made of solid stainless steel and resilient gorilla glass and is available in five neutral finishes. The case alone measures 1.5 inches and weighs a light 1-ounce without the band attached. Band options are fairly impressive as well; Withings offers an assortment of 13 slim 0.7-inch leather and metallic bands in pastel and darker colorways. Compared to other hybrids, the ScanWatch is one of the most stylish models to consider, no matter the combination.
But Not As Detailed Or As Accurate Reporting
Like other hybrid smartwatches, the Scanwatch displays pertinent info via an on-screen OLED that responds to inputs to the side-mounted button. It also works well with Androids and iPhones running newer operating systems. Whichever OS you’re using, connectivity and tracking insights aren’t as detailed as the information full-blown smartwatches offer. You can set up notifications to appear on the display but that’s about it. A few highlights include respiratory health and blood oxygen monitoring and menstrual cycle logging and sleep quality insights can be fairly detailed. If you want more, Withings tempts you with a Withings+ paid subscription, a platform like Fitbit Premium to get a fuller wellness picture and some coaching.
“It has a polished look and more closely resembles a true watch than any of the other ones I tested,” says Simpson. “It was lightweight, easy to adjust and easy to navigate. However, if you want a smartwatch that doubles as a fitness tracker, the Withings falls short here compared to other options... The activity tracking is limited (walking, running, swimming and cycling were the only preset options), and I was disappointed with the accuracy of the heart rate tracking during my strength-training sessions.”
One benefit of the lack of detailed fitness tracking and true smartwatch features like onboard GPS and answering calls or texts is the battery longevity. You can expect up to 30 days without charging the ScanWatch Light.
If you’re an Android user, better yet a Samsung fan, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is an appealing alternative to the Apple Watch. This latest version comes with a bigger, higher-quality display with hard crystal glass and a slimmed down and reshaped bezel for an easier-to-wear fit. While the standard band option is silicone, Samsung presents users plenty of opportunity to customize the look, thanks to its selection of leather, hybrid leather and a new assortment of comfortable-for-sleeping fabric bands in over 20 colors. Swapping bands is also easier than ever because of the device’s one-click release system.
Quick, Easy Navigation—But Only For Android Users
The Watch 6 comes with a trademark Samsung feature: a digital touch bezel that allows you to swipe around the screen’s edge for quicker navigation between screens and apps. You’ll also get conveniences like making and receiving phone calls and texts, streaming music and access to countless app options in the Play Store. Overall, the Watch 6 plays nicely with most Android devices. However, some features like camera trigger control and Samsung Pay are limited to Samsung phones. It’s worth noting that while the Watch 6 has a faster processor than previous version, depending on your usage, battery life could be closer to a day than the reported 40 hours.
As for wellness and safety, the Watch 6 tracks heart rate activity, including irregular reads, temperature sensing and cycle tracking and sleep coaching. It also offers a full-body scan with information about body fat, BMI and water content and manual activity tracking for over 90 workout types—and loads of details about calorie burn, distance and heart rate zones. The Watch 6 is also water resistant up to 5 feet and comes with fall detection and emergency calling.
“The Samsung Watch 6 feature a large, bright screen for checking your health stats, sending messages and more,” tech editor Rebecca Isaacs says in her testing. “The battery life could be longer, but for those that are already invested in the Samsung ecosystem, it’s a great option to enjoy smart features on your wrist. I also really like having the extra sleep features to help me analyze my sleep.”
If you’re interested in a smartwatch with a generous assortment of wellness and fitness tools for less than $100, the $70 Amazfit Bip 3 Pro rivals higher-tier models in a few important ways. Like its pricier counterparts, the Bip 3 Pro is swim-suitable with a water resistance rating of 5 feet, and it also monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, cycle tracking, stress and sleep quality. The sleep metrics are surprisingly detailed, covering the typical resting hours but also factors like breathing quality. The Bip 3 Pro features over 60 sports modes and delivers PAI (personal activity intelligence) tracking, a metric that looks at daily activity and other factors to present a big picture of your overall well-being.
Limited Connectivity But Plenty Of Fitness Tracking
The Bip 3 Pro is compatible with Android and Apple phones but it doesn’t offer the same kind of interconnectedness between watch and phone. It only offers notifications about phone calls and texts and can’t take on-device calls or texts or handle emergency calling. However, the Bip 3 Pro outperforms flashier smartwatches on battery longevity: It’s possible to go up to 14-day between charges.
While the 1.7-inch screen is bright, the standard band is silicone and comes in only three shades. The case is also made of plastic and tempered glass as opposed to the crystal and aluminum in many of the more fashion-forward and feature-rich smartwatches on the market and on this list. On the plus side, the Bip 3 Pro offers 50+ watch faces and editable widgets and you can add your own photo just like on Samsung and Apple smartwatches.
After testing, Simpson found the Amazfit Bip Pro 3 “on par with more expensive” fitness trackers. “For those on a strict budget, I highly recommend the Amazfit Bip Pro 3,” she says. “Aesthetics-wise, it resembles the Fitbit Versa with a midsize touchscreen and thick silicone band. I liked how easy it was to use, and found the interface intuitive and simple to navigate.”
For those that might not be fully integrated into the Apple ecosystem, finding a rugged smartwatch can feel like a chore. If you’re seeking a great balance of smartwatch and fitness tracking features that can withstand the toughest of your favorite outdoor activities, the Samsung Watch 5 Pro fits the bill. Introduced in 2022, Samsung’s rugged watch hasn’t seen an upgrade in nearly two years, and that’s partially due to the features packed into the device. The Watch offers a BioActive sensor that acts as a three different sensors to monitor your health metrics, tracking your heart rate, ECG and the Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor that keeps tabs on your body composition.
Improved GPS Tracking For Your Adventures
But the real claim to fame is the Watch’s rugged features, including that titanium case that is resistant to bumps, scrapes and accidental drops. You can track your fitness stats displayed on the 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display, which feels very responsive. The GPS features on the Watch aren’t as robust as, say, the Apple Watch Ultra, and supports downloading trail, bike and running maps to monitor your geographic information while you’re working out. You also need to use the Samsung Health app to use this feature, which can be another step for those that might just want to tap a few buttons and go.
Google Straight To Your Wrist
Using Wear OS powered by Samsung, the operating system feels easy and intuitive to use. In addition to the tracking features, you can send messages, download Spotify playlists and more. And when paired with a Samsung phone, it opens up the full Samsung ecosystem to your fingertips. After all, the ECG and blood pressure features are only available to Samsung users. It’s something to note, especially if you’ve opted for the Google Pixel 8 Pro or the OnePlus Open (and in that case, we recommend opting for the Pixel Watch 2 or the OnePlus Watch 2).
“For Android users hitting the trails, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is a great option,” says tech editor Rebecca Isaacs. “The titanium case feels really sturdy and I love that I don’t have to worry about accidental chips on the glass thanks to the Sapphire Crystal watch face materials used. I wish it came in a few more fun colors. But being able to monitor my GPS location and text my family without pulling out my phone makes this one of my favorite Samsung watches to date.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- Yoona Wagener has been testing and writing about wearables since 2019. She has personally tested and used dozens of smartwatches from every brand on this list and more, and is a dedicated daily Apple Watch Series 7 user. For this piece, Yoona consulted senior strategy editor Katie Simpson, a certified personal trainer, who recently spent hands-on time testing 13 fitness trackers.
- Yoona also reached out to tech analyst and wearables expert Anshel Sag for insights about the top buying factors most users should keep in mind.
- Rebecca Isaacs leads the consumer tech and electronics coverage at Forbes Vetted. She has extensive experience testing, using and keeping up with the latest gear, from the best Samsung phones to new wearables, such as the Apollo Wearable.
- We regularly monitor the latest smartwatch and wearable releases and refresh our content based on the most recent developments and up-to-date first-person insights from editors and contributors. This story was most recently updated in April 2024, updating some of our selections, such as swapping in the Galaxy Watch 6 and removing the two FitBit watches in favor of smartwatches with more diverse features.
How We Chose The Best Smartwatches for Women
- To make our recommendations, we relied on the author’s six years of firsthand experience reviewing and testing wearables, including smartwatches, hybrid smartwatches and fitness trackers, testing insights from our editors, such as Simpson, Molvar and Isaacs, and evaluated the most recent offerings from the most well-known brands in the space.
- We prioritized models that present sizing and accessorizing flexibility with different band sizes, color and fabric options and more extensive customization such as metallic bracelet-style options or visually interesting watch cases. Our selections also include top full, feature-rich smartwatch models, attractive and versatile hybrid-use watches and budget-friendly options that meet somewhere in the middle between sporty and sleek.
- In addition to fashion-forward qualities, we chose smartwatches that work with Android and Apple operating systems as well as models that offer flexibility between both platforms. Finally, the contenders that made our list present the connectivity and wellness and fitness features most users turn to daily on their smartphones to keep up with work, texts or workouts.
What To Look For In The Best Smartwatches For Women
The most complementary smartwatch for you depends on numerous personal preferences about aesthetics and more practical aspects like the operating system you use. Here are a few top buying criteria to keep in mind when looking for your perfect fit.
Operating System
If you plan to get the most out of your smartwatch, the first thing to consider is the operating system you use and how compatible the wearable is with that ecosystem. Sag, the vice president and principal analyst of smartphones and more at Moor Insights & Strategy, points out that smartwatch operating systems can offer a world of convenience. “The biggest strengths are the connectivity to the smartphone, enabling people to not need their smartphones to see notifications, texts or who’s calling,” says Sag. On the other hand, if you have your eyes on a model that runs on Google’s Wear OS and you have an iPhone, this kind of symbiotic relationship isn’t as effortless. “The biggest cons are the fact that Android and Apple watches do not interoperate,” says Sag. “And there are not really many cross-platform choices that exist.” Some models from Garmin and Fitbit, however, can offer a sort of system-agnostic experience, since they’re compatible with both Android and Apple platforms. It’s also worth noting that hybrid smartwatches can’t quite match true smartwatch operating systems. “Most of the fashion brands simply don’t have the resources to build as rich of a software ecosystem as say Apple, Google or Samsung, so that tends to suffer,” says Sag.
Size And Weight
If you have a petite wrist below the minimum size of most smartwatch bands or find yourself between sizes, finding a truly comfortable fit can be a struggle. The best smartwatches for women usually offer multiple band size options as well as a generous number of notches or other adjustability to create a flush and functional fit.
Additionally, while large watch faces are compelling and offer even more visibility for quick glances, the extra screen space usually comes with a hefty weight increase. In my experience, the players that do the best in both areas are Apple, Samsung and Fitbit. Apple’s 41mm face, available in the Series 9 and most predecessors, weighs 42.3 grams at its heaviest (32 grams with the lighter aluminum build) and its small/medium band fits wrists as small as 5.1 inches. Similarly, both Samsung and Fitbit offer small/medium bands that accommodate wrists as small as 5.1 inches and faces that measure as small as 40mm. Fitbit smartwatches like the Sense 2 and Versa 4 are slightly lighter than the Apple Watch Series 9, but Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 succeeds at being the most featherweight at 1 ounce (28.7 grams).
Design And Customization
Many smartwatches with fitness features come with a silicone-type band that’s flexible and moisture resistant. However, if you’re interested in customizing your wearable and incorporating it into your wardrobe, touches like numerous color choices, premium metals and band versatility could be of top interest. Brands like Samsung and Apple produce fabric, leather and metallic variations in numerous colors. Apple’s catalog of customization options is hard to beat with variations like a one-piece loop, braided, magnetic and stainless steel designs. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a smartwatch that looks like an analog watch, hybrid smartwatches tend to offer the most fashion-forward designs with metal watch cases and fabric and leather band options that can take you from the office to the gym. Additionally, all the full smartwatch picks on our list present the option to customize the watch face design, which can add more visual interest or mimic an analog look.
Durability
When shopping for a durable and aesthetically appealing smartwatch, Sag recommends paying close attention to materials. “Titanium seems to be a popular material choice for premium brands like Montblanc and Apple Watch Ultra,” says Sag. “But so is Sapphire which makes the screen much more scratch resistant and durable.” Beyond material quality, water and dust resistance are important to consider. Many smartwatches can handle swimming workouts while most do well with some moisture exposure. IP68 is pretty common for most smartwatches, which means they’re relatively safe from dust and they can handle up to 30 minutes in 5 feet of water. Models like the Apple Watch Series 9 can even handle dips as deep as 164 feet.
Performance And Features
While Sag values voice assistant features such as Google Assistant and Siri, he considers battery life and responsiveness to be top priorities when considering a smartwatch. Battery performance has a huge impact on the convenience and practicality of daily smartwatch use. Most of the top smartwatches on the market promise at least a day of use before needing a charge. However, actual battery performance varies depending on which settings and features you use most. Always-on display settings, for example, tend to drain the battery quickly. Apple watches don’t quite make it to a full day (18 hours is the estimate) while some hybrid options from Garmin and Withings can go from up to five or 30 days without recharging.
Elsewhere, if you’re keen on wellness tools, it’s worth comparing which tracking and metrics are available. And if you really want the freedom to use your smartwatch on its own, models with cellular connectivity can add more convenience by eliminating the need for your smartphone to tag along all the time.
